New York (VNA) – Promoting vitality ofmultilateralism is an urgent requirement for the international community amidchallenges brought about by power politics, populism, declining politicalcommitments and resources shortage, said a senior Vietnamese official.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minhmade the statement while delivering his speech to leaders and representativesof 193 member countries at the General Debate of the UN General Assembly’s 74thsession in New York on September 28.

Minh said multilateral cooperation has a special place inVietnam’s foreign policy.

The process of reform, development, and international integration is closelyassociated with Vietnam’s participation in global and regional multilateralinstitutions, he emphasised.

Vietnam has proved its role as an active and responsible partner in multilateralprocesses by contributing to the UN’s peacekeeping operations and sustainabledevelopment goals, he noted, adding that the country was recently elected anon-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020 – 2021 tenure.

Affirming that international law is the foundation of equalrelations among states, he said the international community should raise voiceagainst unilateral actions that violate international law, and should promote thesettlement of disputes by peaceful measures.

Mentioning his concerns over the recent complicated developments in the EastSea, including serious incidents that infringe upon Vietnam’s sovereign rightsand jurisdiction in the country’s maritime zones as defined by the 1982 UnitedNations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Minh stressed countriesinvolved need to exercise self-restraint and refrain from conducting unilateralacts which may complicate or escalate tension at sea, and settle disputes by peacefulmeasures in line with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.

The official affirmed that as a non-permanent member of theUN Security Council for the 2020 – 2021 tenure and Chair of the ASEAN in 2020,Vietnam will prioritise boosting cooperation between the UN and regionalorganisations particularly in preventing conflicts and promoting peace andsustainability.

Multilateral efforts need to put people at heart. Lastingpeace is the prerequisite for sustainable development and can only be achievedwhen the basic safety and living condition of the people are ensured, he said.

On the occasion, Minh attended the Informal ASEANMinisterial Meeting (IAMM), and joined other ASEAN foreign ministers at a seriesof their meetings with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Pacific Alliance (PA),UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and President of the UN General AssemblyTijjani Muhammad-Bande.

At the IAMM where participating countries discussed thepreparation for the 35th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, Thailand in November, Minhinformed the participants on Vietnam’s preparations for its ASEAN chairmanshipnext year. He also voiced Vietnam’s concerns over the East Sea issue after the 52ndASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Bangkok last August as well as thecountry’s stance on the matter.

The same day, meeting with President of the UN GeneralAssembly Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minhsaid Vietnam attaches importance to cooperating with the UN and will makeactive contributions to the UN’s central role in the multilateral system.

Minh underscored Vietnam’s commitments to the UN’s 2030 agenda on sustainabledevelopment and Paris climate agreement while meeting with UN Secretary-GeneralAntonio Guterres. He also shared the country’s plans for its upcomingparticipation in the UN Security Council and ASEAN chairmanship, therebyenhancing the relations between the UN and regional organisations./.